Other RFA Projects
Education
 Camp Hill Farm |
RFA is currently working with Rockland BOCES to install an educational, rehabilitation (special needs students) farm solution on school grounds.
CSA (Community Supported Agriculture)
Camp Hill Farm, Rockland's very first Community Supported Agriculture farm, opened its doors in 2009 with 35 shares of organic produce. In its second season, the Camp Hill CSA was supporting 70 share members. Camp Hill Farm is a biodynamic operation in Pomona, owned by John McDowell and Alexandra Spadea.
Cropsey Community Farm is Rockland's newest and largest CSA, with 2011 its first season, supporting 200 members. Cropsey Community Farm is a 5-acre organic farm located on the former Cropsey property in New City, and is a collaborative effort between RFA, Rockland County and the Town of Clarkstown.
Parkland/Recreation
In January of 2009 RFA initiated a summit of state and municipal parks officials from New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and New York to discuss efforts to increase agricultural projects on parkland in Rockland County.
Corporate Land
We are consulting with Active International on possible locations for farms on corporate land. Corporate parks often have large tracts of open space that could be tapped for small-scale agricultural uses like providing food shares to employees of the corporation.
Governmental
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RFA met with Honorable Harriet Cornell, Chairwoman of the County Legislature, who enthusiastically pledged her support for RFA's mission. Together we have restored the Farmland Protection Board and we are working on petitioning for an official Agricultural District to Rockland. Both bodies would guarantee right to farm laws for farm operations within the county.
We are working closely with NY State Assemblywoman, Ellen Jaffee, who assured her support as well, stating that RFA is the largest and most diverse group of citizens gathered for a great cause in Rockland County.
Planning
RFA collaborated with the County Planning Department to assess the actual acreage of land under production here in Rockland. The Planning Department has created a GIS query tool to help identify active farmland.
Community Gardens
We are working with the County Health Department, Cornell Cooperative Extension and local municipalities on a new Community Gardens initiative for under-served areas of the county.
The Neighbor to Neighbor Gardening Program
An RFA member organization run by Raoul Cansino, Neighbor to Neighbor launched a new garden for schoolchildren in Chestnut Ridge. A master gardener and student mentors from Green Meadow High School helped children who have little or no contact with gardening or nature to build self-confidence and gain a connection to the earth.
Camp Hill Farm
Hands 2 Mouth
Based on the concept of Victory Gardens, Lisa Kaess and Joan Gussow organize events that introduce people to the fun and benefits of growing their own vegetable/herb gardens. The first garden project was at the Martin Luther King Center.
Farm to School
RFA participated in a Farm-to-School feasibility meeting along with the Health Department and local school food directors of many of the public school districts. The discussion focused on how to provide local foods to schoolchildren.
Religious/Spiritual
The Stony Point Center, a renowned religious retreat center and a member organization of RFA, has broken ground on a new garden on campus. The garden will supply food directly to their kitchen, providing fresh produce for the meals for the Center's staff and guests.